Under-21s set for Slovakia test

Scotland Under-21s will travel to Slovakia for a friendly match next month.

Scot Gemmill’s new-look squad will take on European Championship-bound Slovakia on Wednesday, 9th November at Stadium Myjava kick-off TBC.

Slovakia saw off competition from the Netherlands and Turkey to top Qualifying Group 8 and seal their place at next summer’s finals in Poland.

They will provide strong opposition for Gemmill’s young squad which will again feature players born in 1996 or later – all of whom will be eligible to play in next year’s European qualification campaign which begins next September.

With Scotland out of the running in Qualifying Group 3, Gemmill handed 14 players their first taste of under-21 football earlier this month in his first two games in charge as the campaign drew to a close.

Now he wants to give the team with more top-level experience by providing them with another challenging fixture.

He said: “I was really pleased with how the players applied themselves in the matches against Iceland and FYR Macedonia last month and believe Slovakia will provide us with another tough encounter.

“We need to challenge our best young players if we want to continue their development to the point where they are trusted to play for the full squad and Slovakia will definitely provide us with a strong opposition.

“They performed very well in their qualification group and are now preparing for next year’s finals so I am looking forward to seeing how our players cope.

“We are working with a young squad at the moment but I am confident that this type of challenge will stand them in good stead for the future.”